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www dailytrojan.com
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
February 15,2005
Vol. CXI.VI, No. 24
King moderates Senate debate
Famed CNN interviewer to host today's Student Senate debate in McCarthy Quad; will ask prepared questions.
By ALEXA HYLAND
Suff Writer
CNN television personality l.arry King will moderate tlie final Student Senate debate today, which will highlight the platforms of the presidential and vice presidential candidates.
The event is free to all students and is scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. today in McCarthy Quad. It will be moved to Seeley G. Mudd, Room 124
in case of rain.
The debate will feature King, comedian Nick Swardson and current Student Senate President W. Joe DeMiero.
The event is sponsored by Delta Gamma, Spectrum, TrojanServices and Student Senate.
Student Senate declined to comment on the cost to schedule King.
Including sponsors is a win-win
situation because the organizations that are sponsoring the debate are getting the USC community, said Abby Rogers, assistant director for elections and recruitment and a senior majoring in political science.
Since SGM is a smaller venue compared to McCarthy Quad, Program Board is trying to set up a live feed going into the lobby of SGM if the event is rained out
The candidates are really excited and nervous about King being mediator of the debate, said Jesse Yarish, codirector of elections and recruitment and a junior majoring in international
relations.
“There is a buzz about the event," she said.
King will be asking questions prepared by Rogers and Rex Farrand, codirector of elections and recruitment. The goal of the questions is to bring attention to the issues of the candidates' platforms, Yarish said.
Through the debate, Web site and elections booklet, students will get fo know what each candidate thinks about the issues, Rogers said.
Rogers and Farrand took issues from last week's debates and students' I see King, page IS 1
Military garners protest of students
Law students protest military on-campus recruiters because of'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'policy
By CHRISTINA HUH
Contributing Writer
USC Law School students and faculty members peacefully protested the military's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” policy concerning homosexuals at last Thursday's On-Campus Interview program at the Radisson Hotel.
Some protesters handed military recruiters letters protesting the military’s discrimination policy against homosexuals and Congress' Solomon Act, which threatens to cut federal funding from campuses that bar military recruiters from visiting.
Students also passed out about 500 pins in the law school lobby. The pins were either a rainbow flag or a rainbow flag and an American flag.
The demonstrations at the on-campus program on Thursday were not really a protest but rather "a symbolic show of support of our non-discrimination policy," said Lisa Mead, associate dean of the law school.
The protest was not an antimilitary movement, Mead said.
“1 think that with some people it’s a very emotional issue, and I think that it’s important for people to stay focused on what it is and what it isn’t," Mead said. “The issue I see Protect, page 3 I
INDEX
New Trojan\rision show offers awesome prizes. 7
Bush's ideas for social security make sense. 4
WEATHER
Today: Afternoon showers. High 62, low 52 Tomorrow: Scattered showers. High 67, low 54.
News Digest.....2 Classifieds ..18
Opinion*.________4 Crossword. ...17
Lifeityle,_7 Sports______...20
>.k .
----- - r .
■■■MB
-------------------——
.
./j, —•
**-
‘
*
* #5 ' '
Kathenne Beck I Daily Trojan
Switch up. Conquest Student Housing, former owners of the apartment building Avalon, recently sold the complex to SR Avalon Holdings LLC. Avalon then changed the management of the complex from Conquest to Stratus Real Estate, leaving residents confused about who to turn to with problems.
Avalon complex changes hands
Current student leases in the apartment building will not be affected by the changes in ownership and management.
By CHRIS BLOOM
Staff Writer
SR Avalon Holdings LLC, a real estate firm has purchased Avalon, a student apartment building, from Conquest Student Housing for $5.85 million and switched Avalon’s management from Conquest to Stratus Real Estate.
Current student leases ending in June were not affected by the sale of Avalon, which houses about 80 USC students.
Residents were notified of the purchase with notes posted on their doors stating the change of ownership on Jan. 6, the day of the sale.
The owners had gone through a standard change of ownership pro-
cedure in notifying the current tenants, said Steven Ludwig, principal owner of SR Avalon Holdings.
“We posted notices on everybody’s door informing residents of a change of ownership and*change of management. We also listed our management office information," Ludwig said.
The transition in management has not been smooth, some students said.
“If there was a problem we'd call Conquest. Now we don't know who to call. This isn't the biggest problem in our lives. It’s just annoying. More communication would have been so much better,’ said Candice Brenner, a sophomore majoring in business administration and cur-
rent resident of Avalon.
Conquest had owned and managed Avalon since its construction in 2002 and also manages 17 other properties around USC, housing 1,300 students.
SR Avalon Holdings decided against allowing Conquest Housing to continue managing Avalon.
Instead, SR Avalon Holdings hired Stratus Real Estate to manage the Avalon.
Stratus manages about 20,000 apartment units in multiple states; it also manages Portland Courtyard, which houses USC students.
Stratus could not be reached for comment and did not return multiple messages.
Avalon residents said there are a few differences between the two management services.
“Conquest staff was pretty bad. Conquest has a number of proper-
ties, and things could be done faster with new management. (Stratus) just now painted the lobby,” said Jessica Huynh, a sophomore majoring in political science.
Brenner was also unhappy with Conquest's service, citing a rude staff that did not repair problems in a timely fashion.
“The satellite TV now works, but is has taken three months to fix. The Internet is free with rent, but tonight we don’t have it. Overall, it’s just ridiculous that some of the stuff we pay for is not good,” Brenner said.
Conquest declined to comment on the allegations.
Stratus is repairing some of the problems now, Ludwig said.
“We are currently accepting applications for housing, and we are excited to be working with USC," he said.

www dailytrojan.com
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
February 15,2005
Vol. CXI.VI, No. 24
King moderates Senate debate
Famed CNN interviewer to host today's Student Senate debate in McCarthy Quad; will ask prepared questions.
By ALEXA HYLAND
Suff Writer
CNN television personality l.arry King will moderate tlie final Student Senate debate today, which will highlight the platforms of the presidential and vice presidential candidates.
The event is free to all students and is scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. today in McCarthy Quad. It will be moved to Seeley G. Mudd, Room 124
in case of rain.
The debate will feature King, comedian Nick Swardson and current Student Senate President W. Joe DeMiero.
The event is sponsored by Delta Gamma, Spectrum, TrojanServices and Student Senate.
Student Senate declined to comment on the cost to schedule King.
Including sponsors is a win-win
situation because the organizations that are sponsoring the debate are getting the USC community, said Abby Rogers, assistant director for elections and recruitment and a senior majoring in political science.
Since SGM is a smaller venue compared to McCarthy Quad, Program Board is trying to set up a live feed going into the lobby of SGM if the event is rained out
The candidates are really excited and nervous about King being mediator of the debate, said Jesse Yarish, codirector of elections and recruitment and a junior majoring in international
relations.
“There is a buzz about the event," she said.
King will be asking questions prepared by Rogers and Rex Farrand, codirector of elections and recruitment. The goal of the questions is to bring attention to the issues of the candidates' platforms, Yarish said.
Through the debate, Web site and elections booklet, students will get fo know what each candidate thinks about the issues, Rogers said.
Rogers and Farrand took issues from last week's debates and students' I see King, page IS 1
Military garners protest of students
Law students protest military on-campus recruiters because of'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'policy
By CHRISTINA HUH
Contributing Writer
USC Law School students and faculty members peacefully protested the military's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” policy concerning homosexuals at last Thursday's On-Campus Interview program at the Radisson Hotel.
Some protesters handed military recruiters letters protesting the military’s discrimination policy against homosexuals and Congress' Solomon Act, which threatens to cut federal funding from campuses that bar military recruiters from visiting.
Students also passed out about 500 pins in the law school lobby. The pins were either a rainbow flag or a rainbow flag and an American flag.
The demonstrations at the on-campus program on Thursday were not really a protest but rather "a symbolic show of support of our non-discrimination policy," said Lisa Mead, associate dean of the law school.
The protest was not an antimilitary movement, Mead said.
“1 think that with some people it’s a very emotional issue, and I think that it’s important for people to stay focused on what it is and what it isn’t," Mead said. “The issue I see Protect, page 3 I
INDEX
New Trojan\rision show offers awesome prizes. 7
Bush's ideas for social security make sense. 4
WEATHER
Today: Afternoon showers. High 62, low 52 Tomorrow: Scattered showers. High 67, low 54.
News Digest.....2 Classifieds ..18
Opinion*.________4 Crossword. ...17
Lifeityle,_7 Sports______...20
>.k .
----- - r .
■■■MB
-------------------——
.
./j, —•
**-
‘
*
* #5 ' '
Kathenne Beck I Daily Trojan
Switch up. Conquest Student Housing, former owners of the apartment building Avalon, recently sold the complex to SR Avalon Holdings LLC. Avalon then changed the management of the complex from Conquest to Stratus Real Estate, leaving residents confused about who to turn to with problems.
Avalon complex changes hands
Current student leases in the apartment building will not be affected by the changes in ownership and management.
By CHRIS BLOOM
Staff Writer
SR Avalon Holdings LLC, a real estate firm has purchased Avalon, a student apartment building, from Conquest Student Housing for $5.85 million and switched Avalon’s management from Conquest to Stratus Real Estate.
Current student leases ending in June were not affected by the sale of Avalon, which houses about 80 USC students.
Residents were notified of the purchase with notes posted on their doors stating the change of ownership on Jan. 6, the day of the sale.
The owners had gone through a standard change of ownership pro-
cedure in notifying the current tenants, said Steven Ludwig, principal owner of SR Avalon Holdings.
“We posted notices on everybody’s door informing residents of a change of ownership and*change of management. We also listed our management office information," Ludwig said.
The transition in management has not been smooth, some students said.
“If there was a problem we'd call Conquest. Now we don't know who to call. This isn't the biggest problem in our lives. It’s just annoying. More communication would have been so much better,’ said Candice Brenner, a sophomore majoring in business administration and cur-
rent resident of Avalon.
Conquest had owned and managed Avalon since its construction in 2002 and also manages 17 other properties around USC, housing 1,300 students.
SR Avalon Holdings decided against allowing Conquest Housing to continue managing Avalon.
Instead, SR Avalon Holdings hired Stratus Real Estate to manage the Avalon.
Stratus manages about 20,000 apartment units in multiple states; it also manages Portland Courtyard, which houses USC students.
Stratus could not be reached for comment and did not return multiple messages.
Avalon residents said there are a few differences between the two management services.
“Conquest staff was pretty bad. Conquest has a number of proper-
ties, and things could be done faster with new management. (Stratus) just now painted the lobby,” said Jessica Huynh, a sophomore majoring in political science.
Brenner was also unhappy with Conquest's service, citing a rude staff that did not repair problems in a timely fashion.
“The satellite TV now works, but is has taken three months to fix. The Internet is free with rent, but tonight we don’t have it. Overall, it’s just ridiculous that some of the stuff we pay for is not good,” Brenner said.
Conquest declined to comment on the allegations.
Stratus is repairing some of the problems now, Ludwig said.
“We are currently accepting applications for housing, and we are excited to be working with USC," he said.